LONDON: Al-Hilal lost to Qatari side Al-Rayyan 2-1 at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha in the AFC Champions League, with Al-Hilal going into the game with a changed line-up.
The win for the Qataris came thanks to goals in either half from Moroccan striker Abderrazak Hamdallah and club captain Rodrigo Tabata.
The visitors got their consolation goal in the 89th minute after Ahmed Yasser fouled Achraf Bencharki in the box and Yasser Al-Qahtani drove home the resulting penalty kick.
The Saudi side had a chance to snatch an equalizer through Al-Qahtani’s header after the onrushing goalkeeper failed to clear the ball, but Al-Qahtani saw his attempt blocked by defender Gonzalo Viera.
The result puts Al-Rayyan on six points with two games to play in the group stage.
Meanwhile, Al-Hilal face an uphill battle to get out of the group, sitting bottom of the table with two points and only two games to spare.
Al-Hilal face uphill task to progress in AFC Champions League after defeat in Qatar
Al-Hilal face uphill task to progress in AFC Champions League after defeat in Qatar
